The first Fisheye-Nikkor was a fixed focus Non-Ai Fisheye-Nikkor 8mm f/8.0 lens in 1962. The
fixed focus 8mm f/8.0 was followed by another similar lens, which has a full f-stop
faster lens speed in Fisheye Nikkor 7.5mm f/5.6 in 1965 where the lens has almost
similar design (similarly the year where Nikkormat SLR cameras was marketed officially)
and followed by an even wider view Fisheye Nikkor 6mm f/5.6 lens in 1967 ! So,
the three lenses (10mm OP-Fisheye Nikkor lens that introduced
in 1969 differed from the rest of other Fisheye-Nikkor available at that time as
it produces an orthographic projection) formed the core Nikkor Fisheye group lenses
in the Nikkor lens family during that period of time. A drawback of these series
of older Non-Ai version of Fisheye lenses is, in order to use these lenses, your
Nikon SLR cameras need to have a Mirror lock up feature before you can mount the
lens onto the camera effectively.

Anyway, Nikon
has only the various reflex Nikon F SLR models available during that period and supplemented
by the various mid range Nikkormat SLR bodies. Other than the professional Nikon
F-class SLRs, which seen a new series of Nikon SLR cameras Nikon FM and Nikon FE being introduced in 1977 to
replace the entire Nikkormat
series, the
useful Mirror Lock Up feature found on all previous Nikon SLRs has been omitted from
those mid-size Nikons. This has caused some selective range of Nikkor lenses, such
as the Non-Ai Fisheye Nikkor 8mm f/8.0, 7.5mm f/5.6, 6mm f/5.6 and 10mm OP lenses
which require a that feature to work effectively incompatible with these new series
of camera models.

As these lenses
have a protruding rear section which reach very far inward, the reflex mirror has
to be lock upwards so as not to obstruct the mirror movement when an exposure is
activated, thus, you will need to lock the reflex mirror to ensure it is not damaging
the lens/mirror. Naturally, as once the mirror is locked and flipped upward, you
will have a viewfinder black out and there is no way for you to peep through the
viewfinder for focusing and picture composing. These series of Fisheye lenses usually
are supplied with an auxiliary optical finder which you are supposed to mount it
beside (or at the top for Nikkormat) to use it as your visual aid to compose (Not
focus). This is essentially the main drawback of the original series Fisheye Nikkor
lens.

By 1969, there
was a breakthrough in the design of Fisheye lenses. A resulting of such lens development
program was an extremely wide-view circular optic Nikkor Fisheye 6mm f/2.8 lens. It was actually
the world's widest optical lens in 35mmphotography which comes with an astonishing
lens speed of f/2.8. So, the design was a prelude for an entirely new breed of Fisheye-Nikkor
lenses that were designed to replace the entire series of older design Fisheyes that
require mirror lock-up and fixed focus design. Obviously, with the new series of
SLRs being prepared in the pipeline during that period to enable the cameras expanding
a wider scope of applications for such lenses.Thus, in an initial effort of a general
lens/camera updating program, Nikon finally upgraded the slow, sluggish fixed focus
Fisheye-Nikkor 8mm f/8.0 lens in 1970 with an extremely fast Auto Fisheye Nikkor 8mm f/2.8 lens.

The new fisheye lens has an entirely different optical design from any of the previous
Fisheye lenses. Basically, the main difference is, the concept was to restore the
original essence of how single lens reflex cameras/lenses should works - where you
can view. focus and compose pictures through the lens direct and precisely with metering
also via the picture taking lens at any given f-stop you have chosen and set on the
aperture ring on the lens. The lens speed of the Fisheye-Nikkor 8mm f/2.8 lens was
boosted to a an extremely bright f/2.8 to ensure viewfinder image remains constantly
bright for easy focusing. With the new design, a photographer can now focus directly
via the viewfinder of the camera and need not have to make use of the auxiliary finder
anymore. Further, the lens has other lovely touches as it has being designed with
an internal built-in revolving turrets which permits rapid changing of filters. The
unusual optical characteristic of a circular Fisheye lens may turn even the most
mundane subject into a spectacular image and all the visual difference can be view,
fine adjust the focus, recomposed if you liked and see the changes inside the eyepiece.
Big deal - you must be thinking... Yea, it was, because previous lens version can
only be used to prearrange and position the subject within a specific depth of field
zone; next, via the accessory finder, you won't able to see the visual difference
as with reflex photography; thirdly, you cannot meter via the picture taking lens
and very often either pre-shooting meter is required or using an external handheld
meter. So, probably not for some of you - but it was a real BIG DEAL when the new
lens was debuted during that era where it was a big hit for those who had experienced
all the negative aspect with older versions of the circular Fisheye lenses.

Well, other
than the supremely wide Nikkor 6mm Fisheye which is so expensive and tedious to setup
for use, I think more importantly this 8mm Nikkor fisheye lens is a logical and practical
alternative. The current version of the Fisheye-Nikkor 8mm f/2.8 is an Ai-S version
which was introduced back in 1982. The Ai-S version differs from the earlier Ai lens
slightly with the built in filter supplied with L1BC instead of skylight filter.
It is quite compact in its size and lighter in weight at 1.1 kg as compared to the
massive weight of 5.2 kg in the 6mm counterpart. The high portability and good lens
speed factors alone was a blessing for those who often works in available light or
indoor without flash. A word of caution to the potential owner, the front portion
of the lens protrudes outwards and need care and attention to avoid the front lens
elements getting scratch or damage. Always use the lens cap to protect it when the
lens is not in use or unattended.

Technical
Highlights: * All-encompassing 180°
fisheye coverage produces a circular image on the film; everything in front of the
camera is included in the picture. * Bright f/2.8 aperture
makes it easy to view and focus, even in dim light. * Close focusing down to 0.3m (1 ft.). *Full-aperture viewing
and metering. * Rapid changing of
filters - 5 filters (skylight, medium yellow, dark yellow, orange, and red) are built
into a revolving turret inside the lens.

*Truly creative pictorial
effects impossible with any other type of lens; extreme barrel distortion makes lines
bow in, while exaggerated perspective makes objects close to the lens very large
indeed. *
Used
in science and industry for weather and cloud observation, astronomical studies,
surveillance work, and for photographing inside confined areas, such as airplane
cockpits, tunnels, pipelines, heating or air-conditioning conduits, etc.

Credit: MCLau®, who has helped to rewrite
some of the content appeared this site. Chuck Hester® who has been helping
me all along with the development of all these Nikon websites;LarsHolst Hansen, 'Hawkeye'
who shares the same passion I have; Ms Rissa, Sales manager
from Nikon Corporation Malaysia for granting permission to use some of the official
content; TedWengelaar,Holland
who
has helped to provide many useful input relating to older Nikkor lenses; Some of the references
on production serial numbers used in this site were extracted from Roland Vink's website; HiuraShinsaku from Nikomat
Club Japan. Lastly,
to all the good people who has contributed their own expeience, resources or kind
enough granted permission to use their images of their respective optic in this site.
It is also a site to remember a long
lost friend
on the Net.Note:certain content and
images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets
& brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality
of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible
for may discrepancies arise from such dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu
KK"
& "Nikkor" are registered
tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple IMac.